Hoisting and transporting mechanism.



W. TRAVELL.

HOISTING AND TRANSPORTIN G MECHANXSM.

APPLICATION FlLED FEB. 2. 1915- latented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET f.

WITNES SE .5

[MENTOR I flfanw/zm w. TRAVELL HOISTING AND TRANSPORTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1915.

1 ,184,05 1 vPatented May 23, 1916.

2 S'HEETSSHEET2.

Fig 5 INVENTOE warm/J UNITED STATES-PATENT wannmrimvnnn or mneuwoon, new mnsnx.

norsrmc ANnmNsPo-arme MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN TRAVE L, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hoisting and. Transporting Mechanism, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates-to improvements in hoisting and transporting mechanisn More particularly it relates to apparatus in which the load is raised or lowered and transported by the revolution of a drum around which the operating ropes'pass, and

is more or'less balanced by a counterweight.

It is an object of the invention to simplify apparatus of this character, especlally by making a single rope serve purposes .for which two have sometimes hitherto been required; to provide for the transportation of aload by the same single rope which has elevated it without the necessity of the transportation going up an incline, which has characterized some types of -apparatus heretofore designed for working with a single .rope; to do this with either a hand-operated or an automatic shift between the elevatmg and the transporting movement; to provide means for controlling easily the elevation at which the shift occurs; to provide a 'further controlling means, supplementing the action of a counterweight and therefore reducing the work required of the hoisting engine, efiectin'g a material saving both in first cost of apparatus and in operating expense, which is accomplished by' means of a suitable clamping device; and in general to pro- 7 vide apparatus and combinations having the mother advantages and improvements that characterize the invention. herein set forth.

It-is the object of the patent to cover, by suitable expression in the appendedclaims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in-the invention disclosed.

In order to give a practical-understanding of the invention, an embodiment'of it in. one particular type of apparatus is described and illustrated herein; but it willnaturally Specification of Letters Patent.

a Patented--May'23, 1916.

Application'filed February 2, 1915. Serial No. 5,685.

scale; Fig. 3is a diagrammaticrepresentation 'ofanother embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is an elevation representing a device that may be used for operatin the clamps upon certain ropes shown in5F1g. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan of the same, in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 represents, on an denlarged scale, the drum shown in Figs. 1 an In the accompanying drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates a track or way supported in mid;ai r'by any suitable means, here represented bythe supports marked 4. This way maybe of any type, with rails or cable or other guides, horizontal or inclined and may extend to any desired distance. It may have an vextension to reach over water or roadway which is here represented as a boom 2, capable of being swun on hinges between the full'lfine position an the dotted line position, by a winch 6 from which a rope 7 leads over sheaves 8 and 9 to the boom. The boom may be made and mounted so that it is retractable according to any suitable construction, its particular purpose being to project the-way beyond its last support to a place where it is desired to ma-' nipulate a bucket or other load 16. In the particular representation made in the drawings such a bucket is portrayed as being con-' trolled by a drum 10, operated by an engine 11, from which drum a rope 12 leads over a fixed sheave 13, and a sheave 14 on a carriage 25 to the bucket 'or other load 16. In the particular. form illustrated this rope passes down, around a sheave 15 at the load, and up again to the carriage '25 to which its end is fastened. It will be readily understood,.however, that other arrangements of tackle supporting the load on the end of this rope may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention, according as may be convenient or desirable. From the same drum 10, but wound on the drum in the opposite direction, a rope 23 extends, passing rom the drum 10 and around a traveling sheave 20,,a fixed sheave 19, and thence going byanyconvenient path such as the fixed sheave-18 to a sheave 17 at the extreme en'dof the extension 2, and around thatsheave tothe carriage 25, to whichit is attached so as to'pull the carria e in the opposite 'direction from that in w ich the rope 12would pull it. Inefiect this, r0 e 23 is continuous with the rope 12 at the rum 10, although as a matter of construction it 'may be either actually continuous with it or separate from it. Fig. 6 shows an advantageous arrangement, where two separate ropes are attached one to each end of a single drum. Being attached to thesame drum they must workas if they were one, but the'advantage is attained. that the same windin space is used for each of them. The reference herein to the ropes 23 and 12 as being continuous must therefore be understood as meaning continuous in effect, however that eifect'may be attained.

The traveling sheave 20 is connected with a counterweight 22by a rope 31 passing over a fixed sheave 21. As illustrated in Fig. 1,.this counterweight and sheave travel reciprocally in vertical paths; and a stop 26 is provided; in such position as to determine the lower limit of travel of the counterweight 22, thus determining the upper limit of travel of the sheave 20. Fig. 3 illustrates a case where the counterwe ght and the sheave 20travel in the samedirection. The direction is immaterial, the important feature being that the counterweight imposes a pull on the rope 23-and the engine drum 1O opposing the pull of the rope 12 on the carriage 25 and the engine drum 10. I

24 is a stop which limits the travel of the carriage 25 in the outward direction on tracks 1, 2. The stops 24 and 26 may be fixed, or may be adjustable in position, so as to bring the carriage and the counterweight respectlvely to a stop at places different from those illustrated; and these stops may be constructed according to any suitable design. In the drawing, the stop 26 is diagrammatically represented as being adjustable. Dotted lines show the positions of the counterweight with its attached sheave and ropes when. they are at their limit as determined by the position in which the stop 26 is put. When the various parts constituting the invention are arranged in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the counterweight is exerting an upward pull on the sheave 20 and through that by one branch on the drum 10 and by another branch on the carriage25. The pull on the drum 10 is opposed by the'brake on that drum, or by the engine connection; or, assuming that the engine be disconnected and that there be no brake, is opposed by the weight of. the load 16, tending to pull the rope 12 in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow thereon. Hence in a static. position either the brake or the-engine or the load, or any or all of them combined, hold fast the part of rope 23 which is on the drum; and the counterweight 22 pulling upward on sheave 20 takes up all slack. and holds the carriage 25 pulled'firmly outward in whatever position its further movementis barred by a stop 24 or by any-other means.

Revolution of the drum 10 over to the right as represented inthe drawing, mainthe load 16 being raised tains this situation, from position A gradually, and the sheave 20 rising and taking up the slack let out by the drum 10, while thecounterweight 22 is take up no more slack; when the continued revolution of. drum 10 pays out more of rope 23 the outward pull on carriage 25 is released; and since the rope 12 is pulled in by the drum just as fast as the rope 23 is paid out by it, the system yields or slips at the point of least resistance and the carriage 25 moves to the left onthe tracks 2, 1. The alternative to this would be for the raising of the load 16 tocontinue; but obviously under all-ordinary conditions it would require more power to raise that load than to pull the carriage 25 on its track. Hence when the counterweight has reached its stop 26 the action automatically changes, the load ceasing to rise but acting to hold tight the loop of rope which is below the sheave 14, while the carriage moves inward, being drawn by rope 12 and followed by rope '23 at the same rate. The position of the load at the instant of this change is indicated by the dotted lines at B. This travel may continue until any desired position is attained, as indicated, for exam le, by the dotted lines at C, where the load may be discharged either automatically by any suitable means or by hand. If it is desired to lower the down, raising the counterweight 22, because I the end of rope 23 is stayed at 27. To raise the load or the empty bucket from position D the action is the same as for raising it from position A the drum is turned over to the right, drawing in rope 12 and paying out rope 23, the sheave 2O co-incidentally rising and the counterweight 22 descending. When the descent of the counterweight has been stopped, the load being then at the level" C, the action will automatically shift to a horizontal movement of the carriage, which will be to the left, because of the direction in which the drum 10 is turning; but by re-,

versing the engine at this instant and removing the stop 27 the carriage will be moved to the right until the stop 24 is en-. countered, when, upon the staying of rope- 23, the continuing draft by drum 10 will load 16, and that the engine 11, or some other suitable means, together with the friction of the rope, acts as a brake to control the speed or to hold the parts stationary, against any pre onderance, either of counterweight or of oad.

Apparatus of the variety indicated in Fig. 1 can be used with high economy for many commercial purposes because the track can extend inward toany desired distance,

approximately horizontally, and the bucket may be raised no higher than necessary for the dumping, and the shift from elevating to transporting or the reverse is automatic and therefore speedy, and is effected without stopping and re-starting the engine. Thus the bucket may be loaded in the bot tom of the vessel, raised to the level of the position'D, its motion automatically converting from an elevating to atranSPorting movement and then running in to the position D. After dumping, a simple reversalof the engine. carriesit back and down again to the position A. .The elevation at which the changeg between the vertical and the horizontal-g-movement of the load automatically occurs is determined by the elevation at which the descent of counterweight 22 is stopped. The position at which the descent of the bucket or load from the carriage begins is determined by the position where its outward movement on the track is stopped while the drum 10 continues to pay out rope 12. Such stoppage of the carriage may be accomplished by any suitable means such. for example, as a device arranged on the carriage itself, such as a pawl 27 adapted to engagea fixed rack28 beside the track. As'illustrated this pawl is normally kept out of engagement by a spring, but maybe drawn into engagement by a rope 30 so as to prevent movement of the carriage outward. When thus drawn into engagement the engine may be reversed and the load lowered by merely reversing the engine. The pawl is automatically released whenever the pull on rope 30 is released, and rotation of the engine in the backward direction under those circumstances will move the carriage outward again. For the operation of apparatus for unloading from a vessel, such as that illustrated, a fixed stop 24, properly positioned, may conveniently be used as this causes the shift at the proper place without attention of the operator.

Other applications of the invention may be made; and variations from the particular arrangement illustrated may. be made of reevin without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular the number of possible variations of the manner of reeving the ropes is very great; and the manner of stopping the counterweight and the carriage, as illustrated, are. to be considered as diagrammatic.

Instead of using stops 24: and 27 to limit the travel of the carriage similar results may be obtained by applying a stop such as a clamp, friction drum, or other device to the rope 23 at any point of its length between the sheave 20 and the carriage 25.

Similarly the support for the counterweight.

22 is not necessarily a platform support as illustrated, but may take the form of any kind of a contrivance acting either on the rope 31 or on'the counterweight to prevent further descent of the counterweight.

In Fig. 1, 26 and 27 indicate diagrammatically, places where clamps might be applied to seize and hold the rope 31 supporting the counterweight and the rope 23. However, the apparatus illustrated in that figure is complete without such clamps, and the clamps if present would be additional or alternative to other means shown in that figure. Fig. 3 illustrates a different style the ropes, an electric motor 11 instead 0 the engine 11 for operating the drum 10, a sheave 20 corresponding to the sheave 20 of Fig. l, and a counterweight 22 of adjustable weight connected with the sheave 20 by a rope 31 which passes around two sheaves, 19 and 19, so that downward movement of the counterweight corresponds with downward movement of the sheave 20 This general arrangement permits convenient assemblage of the clamps 26, 27 applied respectively to the ropes 31 and 23, the motor and thedrum all within reach of the controlling operator. Fig. 4 illustrates in detail an appliance (which is shown on a smaller scale in Fig. '3 and is suggested diagrammatically in Fig. 1) for controlling such clamps and guarding against both being worked at the same time. As there seen, a lever having a handle 59 can be thrown in one direction to clamp the rope 31' between the shoes 26 and 66, or in the other direction to clamp the rope 23 between the shoes 27 and 67. In the construction represented, there are cross beams 61 fixed rigidly on the supporting frame, holding a fixed fulcrum 58 on which the lever 59 may be swung in order to compress the shoe 26' against a stationary shoe 66, rigidly supported upon the said beams 61. This clamps the rope 31 between thesetwo shoes and at the same time pushes the shoe 27 away from the fixed shoe 67 so that the rope 23 runs free. Swinging the lever in the opposite direction produces the opposite effect, clamping rope '23 and leaving rope 31' free;

but both ropes cannot be clamped at the same time. This rope clamping apparatus may obviously supplant the stop 26 of Fig. 1, because by throwing the lever 59 in the proper direction the operator can stop a counterweight 22 at any point in its descent as effectively as by the use of a stop of the type shown at 26 in Fig. 1; and likewise by throwing the lever .59 in the opposite direction movementof the rope 23 can be arrested as effectively as by the use of a stop of the type 24 or 27 of Figs. 1 and 2. Either of these clamps canv hold its rope firmly so as to resist a pull greater than the weight of the counterweight if such effect ever be wanted, inwhich case it would have the effect of temporarily supplementing or supplanting the counterweight.

In the operation of the device the effect of friction is an important factor. In a machine constructed and operated under ordinary commercial. conditions there will be a substantial degree of friction at each sheave; andthis always tends to prevent mo tion. Hence, for example, if there be a bucket 16 weighing 1000 pounds and having capacity for a load of 2000 pounds, and a counterweight of 2000 pounds, the apparatus will stay in equilibrium even when the full load of 3000 pounds is suspended stationarily in mid-air, the load not de scending or moving the carriage inward notwithstanding that it exceeds the counter-.

weight bya thousand pounds. "Onthe other hand, the apparatus will equally stay in equilibrium when the bucket is empty and the counterweight exceeds the load suspended from the carriage by a thousand pounds. This illustration is figured on an allowance of 10 percent. for friction at each sheave and shows how there may be equilibrium against motion for .all loads between 1000 and 3000 pounds with a single counterweight. If in any. case friction of the engine be included in the computation the range of equilibrium under variations of loading will be found to be greater.- With additional sheaves a 'still greater range is obtainable. It is believed that in most cases arising in actual practice the whole mechanism will always be in. balance, Whether loaded or unloaded, with only such sheaves as are necessary for the proper guidance of the ropes, so that a friction brake on the engine will not be necessary, or if present need not be' used. A clamping arrangement can therefore be conveniently used, such as that illustrated, by which either rope alone may be clamped, or neither of them, at the will of the operator. The condition of equilibrium and the avoidance of the necessity of using friction brakes are. regarded as features of importance in the invention. In large machines where the variation of loading is considerable, friction brakes on be desirable to provide them for use in emergencies, even though not necessary in the ordinary operation of the system.

' The invention herein disclosed can be applied in many and various forms, as will be readily understood by those skilled in deal ing with hoisting and transporting mechanism, differing much in appearance perhapsv from the particular forms here illustrated, while still utilizing the benefits of the discovery which I have made'and-hereinbefore set forth. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim:

1'. The combination, with a way, a carriage, a combined traverse and hoisting rope extending along the way to and depending from the carriage, and means to control motion of that rope; of a second rope extending from said control means as a continuation of thefirst rope and reaching the carriage from a direction opposite to that of the first rope; a counterweight holding taut an extensible loop in the second rope; means to stop the carriage positively from moving in the direction of pull of the second rope .when the depending rope is below its extreme upper position; and means to stop descent of the counterweight, whereby the loop ceases extending and the second rope pays out the carriage.

2. The combination, with a way, a carriage, a combined traverse and hoisting rope extending along the way to and depending from the carriage, and means to control motion of that rope; of a second rope extending from said control means as a continuation of the first rope and reaching the carriage from a. direction opposite to that of the first rope; a counterweight holding taut an extensible-loop in the second rope; means to stop the carriage positively from moving in the direction of pull of the second rope when the depending rope is below its extreme upper position; and means to stop descent of the counterweight, whereby the loop ceases extending and the second rope pays out the carriage; the counterweight, reeving and friction being such as to produce at the carriage a resistance to traverse movement overcoming the tendency to travfrsel movement resulting from the depending oac 3. The combination, with a way, a car riage, a combined traverse and hoisting rope extending along the way to and depending from the carriage, and means to control mo tion of that rope; of asecond rope extending from said control means as a continuation of the first rope and reaching the carriage from a direction opposite to that of the first rope; a-counterweightholding taut an extensible loop in the second rope; means to oppose with an equal force the component of the counterweights pull which might move the carriage, leaving the apparatus free for hoisting; and means barring descent of the counterweight beyond a predetermined point, whereby the loop ceases extending and the ropes operate the traverse action.

4. In apparatus of the class described the combination, with a movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a direction opposing the pull of thefirst rope thereon, means to absorb rope in the hoisting action and means to stop such absorption automatically at a predetermined point, thereby making a traverse action.

- 5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable carriage, of a rope for: hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a direction opposing the pull of the first rope thereon; a lug on the carriage, movable with respect thereto, and

adapted to engage a stationary part to stop movement of the carriage and means to absorb and pay out the rope forthe hoisting action while movement of the carriage is stopped.

6. In apparatus of the class described the combination, with a movable'carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a directionopposlng the pull of the first rope thereon; a stationary lug adapted to engage the carriage in opposition to the pull of the continuation rope with equal force, whereby the carriage ceases its traverse movement; and a counterweight holding taut an extensible loop in said continuation rope, absorbing slack thereof during the hoisting action.

7. In apparatus ofthe class described the combination, with a movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a direction opposing the pull of the first rope thereon; a stationary lug adapted to engage the carriage in opposition to the pull of the continuation rope, whereby the carriage ceases its traverse movement; a counterweight holding taut an extensible loop in said continuation rope, absorbing slack thereof during the hoisting action; and a supporting platform for the counterweight stopping extension of said loop at a predetermined point, whereby the hoisting action ceases.

8. In apparatus of the class described the combination with a movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, extending from the hoist at the carriage along its way and around to the carriage again and atthe looptaut; frictional clamping means applicable to each of said ropes and a single lever and connections whereby movement thereof in either direction releases one clamp and sets the other.

9. In apparatus of the class described the combination, with a movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, extending from the hoist at the carriage along its way and around to the carriage again and attached thereto from'the opposite direction; a loop in the rope; means for pulling the loop taut; frictional clamping means applicable to' said pulling means and said rope, adapted to balance the pull of either; and actuating means for the rope applied between said loop and hoist.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a'movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a direction opposing the pull of the first rope thereon, a rope arranged to absorb and pay out rope in the hoisting actionpand two clamps, one applicableto said absorption rope thereby producing the traverse action, and the other applicable to said continuation rope thereby producing the hoisting action.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a movable carriage, of a rope for hoisting and traversing, a rope continuation thereof attached to and adapted to pull the carriage in a direction opposing the pull of the first rope thereon, a rope arranged to absorb and pay out rope in the hoisting action, two clamps, one applicable to said absorption rope thereby producing the traverse action, and the other applicable to said continuation rope thereby pro- 12. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination, with a movable carriage and a guideway for it, of a rBpefor hoisting and traversing, extending from the hoist at the carriage along its way and around till it reaches the carriage from the opposite direction; a loop in the rope, extending and contracting with the hoisting action; a power-applying device adapted to extend the loop and means acting automatically at a predetermined point .to stop such extension whereby continuation of movement ofv the rope produces a traversing action.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a movable carriage and a guideway for it, of a rope for hoist-- ing and traversing, extending from the hoist at the carriage along its way and around till it reaches the carriage from the opposite direction; a loop in the rope, extending and tion of that rope; of a second rope extend- 7 mg from said control means as a continuation of the first rope and reaching the carriage from a direction opposite to that of the first rope; a counterweight holding taut an extensible loop in the second rope; means other than said rope to stop the carriage from moving in the direction of pull of the second rope; and means to stop descent of the counterweight, whereby the loop ceases extending and the second rope pays out the carriage.

15. The combination, with a way, a carriage, a combined traverse and hoisting rope extending along the way to and depending from the carriage, and means to control mo tion of that rope; of a second. rope extending from said control means as a continuation of the first rope and reaching the carriage from a direction opposite to that of the first rope; a counterweight, holding taut an extensible loop in the second rope, but

continuously free to rise, permitting the loop to shorten, means to stop the carriage from moving in the direction of pull of the second rope; and means to stop descent of the counterweight, whereby the loop ceases extending and the second rope pays out the carriage.

Signed by me at New York, N. Y., this 28th day of January, 1915.

WARREN TRAVELL.

\Vitnesses HOWARD TRAVELL, JOHN WILLARD TRAVELL. 

